Monday, April 2, 2012

Integrated assembly line produces

Integrated Assembly Line. Northrop photo
PALMDALE, Calif. -- Northrop Grumman's first F-35 center fuselage produced by its auto-industry inspired Integrated Assembly Line was delivered to Lockheed Martin last month. The company has delivered 69 center fuselages since 2005, but this is the first from the IAL. It was developed and designed with the help of the Detroit-based KUKA Robotics Aerospace Division, a commercial automation integrator. As a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 industry team, Northrop Grumman, among other things, produces the center fuselage and designed and produces the aircraft's radar and other avionics. (Source: Globe Newswire, 04/02/12) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base is home of the F-35 training center.